'A Sermon Preached by the Rev.
AN, Rowland in Union Church, Shanghai, on November 9, 1924
"What wilt thou say when He shall cet thy friends over thee ex head (make them tyrannize over thee), ing thou thyself haaf instructed them a lat thee?" Jeremiah 38, 21 (RLY.)
It was the prospect of Armistice Day that lit up. this verse for me. It cannot be called clear as crystal fas some texts ave, for there are three versions of it, one authorized, another revised, @ third suggested, but here can be no doubt about the gist of it, Tt spankes of our characteristic mismanagement of life, how we misuse our privileges, cancel cour advantages, invert our blessings and turn those forees that should be in friendly alliance into tyrant vies.
by should you protest? "says, the prophet, "What right have you to complain if the forces of civilization have got out of hand? Tt was your mishandling that made them mischievous," Here we come on one of the chief paradoxes of life, that many a disadvantage you dree: turns out to be a friend in disgui Dut the things on which you et your heart turn against you for evil, History can example. Spain for i to face the Mohammedan enemy in the 16th century grew to be the most formidable power in Euro) but when the wealth of the New World was poured into her lap har power fell to pieces and it is the same in modern life: our very blessings such as Liberty, Education, Victory, have provided our pro-Dlems: 'The truth is we are too soft with them, so enthusiastic and confiding that' we give them the keys of our soul: This being the truth in the text let us apply it to the blessings I lave mentioned.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.